Tape closer for slide fasteners



Nov. 29, 1966 M. slNDr-:RMAN

TAPE CLOSER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed April 6, 1965 ra/324.93m

met

United States Patent O 3,287,779 TAPE CLOSER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Monte Sinderman, 1553 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Apr. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 445,925 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-205.11)

The present invention relates to slide fasteners for wearing apparel and more particularly to an improved tape closer for slide fasteners.

In wearing apparel, and particularly in Womens garments, it is common practice to utilize slide fasteners to draw together the garments Waist band. For this purpose, slide fasteners generally include a pair of opposing teeth racks, each with a tape connected to the inside of the garment along a vertical side opening, and an elongated exible bead carrying a plurality of teeth in a spaced relation. A slide is received by the teeth racks for moving the racks into and out of an interlocking relation to open and close the slide fastener.

Unfortunately, due to the inherent construction of such slide fasteners, the interlocking teeth do not secure together the extreme upper end portions of the tapes to which the teeth racks are formed. The tapes therefore tend to separate or gap, and form a small opening at the upper ends of the slide fastener. Such a gap is, of course, unsightly and seriously detracts from the smooth contour of the garment.

In many garments, however, the side opening as Well as the closed slide fastener is covered by a fly or overilap. Ideally, the ily also covers any tape separation at the upper ends of the slide fastener. In practice, though, this is not always the case. In fact, due to the tape separation, a gap or bulge often develops between the ily and the front of the garment at the upper end of the slide fastener. The resulting gap and bulge not only expose the tape separation but also a portion of the slide fastener.

To reduce tape separation and hence gapping between the ily of the garment and the slide fastener, it is common to hand sew a hook and eye to the body of the garment directly above the free ends of the slide fastener. In practice, however, such tape closers do not provide a wholly satisfactory solution to the problem. First of all, it is very diflcult to hand place the hook and eye in exact registration. Secondly, the time involved to sew the hook and eye to the garment materially increases its cost. Furthermore, it is extremely dillicult to reliably construct flies which will lay ilat over a slide fastener as well as a hand sewn hook and eye construction. Moreover, even with the use of machine mounted hook and eye tape closer (see, for example, Patent No. 2,818,625), it is found that the ily ldoes not lie flat over the slide fastener, thereby exposing the slide fastener as well as the hook and eye. This is, of course, un-ilattering to the wearer of the garment and materially detracts from the smooth lines of the garment.

In view of the foregoing lproblems, it is a major object of the present invention to provide an improved tapey closer which, While preventing separation of the upper ends of the tapes of the slide fastener, also has means thereon to cause the overllap or ily of the associated garment to lie ilat over the slide fastener.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im=' simple,inexpensive and reliable tape closer for preventing separation of the upper ends of the tapes of a slide fastener and causing the overilap or ily of the associated garment to lie ilat over the slide fastener.

The foregoing, as Well as other objects and advantages of the present invention, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken with the drawing which illustrates, by way of example only, one form of the present invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a front view of the tape closer of the present invention in combination with a slide fastener, the tape closer being in an unlocked position and the slide fastener being partially open;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the slide fastener in its closed position and the tape closer in its interlocking position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 2, slightly enlarged; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of the tape closer with its elements in an interlocking position and portions of the slide fastener in dotted lines.

In the drawing, the illustrated form of the tape closer is represented generally by the numeral 10 and is shown connected to `and carried by a slide fastener 12. The slide fastener 12 is of a conventional construction and is positioned to draw together a fly or overtlap 14 and seam allowance or underilap 16 defining a side opening 17 in a garment 18'. For example, the garment may be a womans skirt with the slide fastener 12 being positioned to draw together the waist band of the skirt.

More particularly, the slide fastener 12 includes a pair `of opposed teeth racks 2li and 22, including tapes 24 and 26 with vertically extending Iflexible beads 28 and 30, carrying a plurality of spaced teeth 32 and 33, respectively. The tape 28 is connected to the underside of the fly 14 along substantially the entire length of the side opening 17 while the tape 30 is connected to the seam allowance 16 in a similar manner. In this position, the teeth 32 and 33 face each other and receive a slide 34 for moving the racks of teeth into an interlocking relationship. To this end, the slide carries a suitable pull tab 36 swingably connected to the slide for facilitating inovement thereof in opening and closing the slide fastener.

The tape closer 10 is an improvement upon the tape closer-slide stop described Iin U.S. Patent 2,818,625 being connected directly to and carried by the flexible beads 28 and 30 of the tapes 24 and 26 above the last tooth of each rack to enable the tapes to be sewn to the cloth of the garment along lines extending closely adjacent the beads without any interference from the tape closer. 'In the illustrated form of the slide fasterner 12, however, the last tooth of each rack is enlarged to act as stop elements for preventing the slide from traveling olf the upper end of the fastener. Therefore, although the tape closer 1'0 is capable of acting as a stop member for a slide, here it does not.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, the tape closer 10 preferably includes interlocking, engaging members comprising an eye member 38 and a hook member 40. The eye member 38 is preferably formed of a suitableI sheet metal and is bent U-shaped so as to provide a center portion 42 and end portions 44. The end portions are bifurcated and receive therein the bead 30 of the teeth rack 22. The eye member is locked or fastened to the bead by forcing the opposite sides of the bifurcated end portions 44 together suillciently to firmly grip the 3 bead 30 with the center portion 42 spaced from the bead sufficiently to receive the hook member 40 in locking relationship. In this manner, the eye member 38 is fastened to the bead 30 in the same manner as the individual teeth of the teeth rack 22 and can be secured to the tape during the construction of the slide fastener.

The hook member 40 is also preferably formed of a suitable sheet metal and comprises a substantially flat center portion 46 having prongs 48 and an arcuate hook 50 projecting therefrom. The hook 50 is bent backwardly with respect to the center portion 46 and slightly inwardly adjacent its end, and is formed of a size for permitting it to be readily inserted between the center portion 42 of the eye member 38 and its adjacent bead. In this regard, the hook member 40 is fastened to the bead 28 of the teeth rack 20 opposite the eye member 38 by inserting the prongs 48 through the tape 24 adjacent the bead 28 and bending the prongs backwardly and inwardly with respect to the center portion around the bead. In this position, the hook member 40 is readily received by the eye member 38 and holds the upper end portions of the tape closely together in side-by-side relationship tov prevent any separation at that point.

In addition to closing the tapes together, the tape closer also functions to hold the ily 14 over the slide fastener 12 to prevent bulging of the ily and to maintain the smooth contour of the garment. T o this end, the hook member 40 includes fastening means 52 for holding the undersideV of the ily to the tape closer such that the ily at all times lies llat over the teeth rack 20, as well as the entire slide fastener 12 when the fastener is closed. Broadly speaking, any means capable of connecting the hook 40 against the underside of the lly 14 may be employed as the fastening means 52 whether it be mounted on, allixed to, or integral with the hook. For example, the fastening means may take the form of a waterproof adhesive, a tunnel or loop through the central portion 46 of the hook member for receiving a hook or thread member from the fly, or the male or female portion of a snap assembly. Here, however, such means 52 are represented as preferably including a pair of holes in the center portion 46 of the hook member. The holes are adapted to receive a loop of thread 54 or other suitable connecting means, extending from the underside of the fly to hold the ily against the hook member. A

Accordingly, the tape closer 10 simultaneously performs the dual functions of locking the tapes 28 and 30 in side-by-side relationship and holding the fly 14 ilat over the slide fastener 12. In this manner, the tape closer prevents tape separation as well as undesired bulging and separation between the iiy and the slide fastener.

In the foregoing, a particular form of the present invention has been described in some detail. Changes in design and construction, however, may occur to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a slide fastener having opposed teeth racks and a slide received by said teeth racks 'for moving the racks into interlocking relationship, each of said teeth racks having a flexible bead port-ion and a plurality of teeth fastened to said bead portion in spaced relationship, the improvement of the combination of a lock mechanism for locking said teeth racks together adjacent the free ends thereof and for holding an overllap, normally overlying sad teeth racks, in a substantially flat plane which comprises:

a ihook member having an outer hook portion, an inner .portion fastened to the ilexible bead of one of said teeth racks adjacent the rtree end thereof, and a generally flat connecting portion between said inner and outer portions;

lflSelllIg Ineens 9D said flat connecting portion of said -hook member for holding an ovenllap overlying saiid hook member against said connecting portion;

and an eye member positioned opposite said :hook member and fastened to the other of said flexible beads, said eye member having an opening for receiving said hook member thereby holding said flexible beads in looking side-by-side relationship.

2. In a slide Ifastener having opposed teeth racks and a slide received by said teeth racks for trnoving the racks into interlocking relationship, each of said teeth racks having a exible bead portion and a plurality of teeth -fastened t-o said bead portion in spaced relationship, the improvement of the combination of a lock mechanism for locking said teeth racks together adjacent the free ends thereof and -for holding an ovenllap nonrnally overlying said teeth racks in a substantially flat plane which comprises:

a hook member having an outer hook portion, an inmer portion fastened in gripping relationship to the flexible bead of one of said teeth racks adjacent the free end thereof, and a generally fiat connecting portion between said inner and outer portions;

fastening means comprising at least one aperture passi-ng through said flat connecting portion of said hook member for holding |an ovenap overlying said hook member against said connecting portion;

and an eye member positioned opposite said hook .imember and fastened in gripping relationship to the yother said flexible beads, said eye member having an opening for receiving said hook member thereby holding said llexible beads .in locking side-by-side relationship.

v3. In a garment having a side opening and a ily for covering said opening, a slide fastener-tape closer combination comp-rising:

a pair of opposed teeth racks each with a tape connected to the inside of the garment along said side opening, and a flexible bead carrying a plurality of teeth in a spaced relation;

a slide received by said teeth racks for moving the racks into interlocking relationship;

a hook member having an outer hook portion, an inner portion connected to the llexible -bead of one of said teeth racks above the last tooth therotf, and a Iflat connecting portion between said inner and outer portions;

fastening means on said connecting portion of said hoo-k member and operatively associated with said ily, for holding the underside of said ily against said connecting portion;

and an eye member connected to the -llexible bead of the other of said teeth racks opposite said hook member, said eye member having an opening for readily receiving the hook member whereby to hold said lexible -beads in locking side-by-side relationship.

4. In a garment having a side opening and a ily fo covering said opening, a slide fastener-tape closer combination comprising:

a pair of opposed teeth racks each with a tape connected to the inside of the lgarment along said sideA opening, and a flexible bead carrying a plurality of teeth in a spaced relation;

slide received by said teeth racks =for moving the racks into interlocking relationship;

a hook member having an outer hook portion, an inner portion connected to the Iilexible bead of one of said teeth racks above the last tooth thereof, and a `generally flat connecting portion between said inner and outer portions, said connecting portion having an opening therethrough;

means connected to said fly and passing through said opening for holding the underside of said diy aigainst said connecting portion of said 'hook member;

and an eye member connected to the flexible bead of the other o-f said teeth racks opposite said hook mem- Iber, said eye member ina-ving an opening for readily receiving said hook portion of said hook memlber whereby to hold said exzble .beads in locking sideby-side relationship.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,5 72, 126 10/ 1951 F alone 2-234 2,818,625 1/ 1958 Sinderxnan 24 205.11 3,110,904 11/ 1963 Feinstein 2li-205.11 X 3,160,935 12/ 1964 Bnoyles 24-205 .11

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SLIDE FASTENER HAVING OPPOSED TEETH RACKS AND A SLIDE RECEIVED BY SAID TEETH RACKS FOR MOVING THE RACKS INTO INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID TEETH RACKS HAVING A FLEXIBLE BEAD PORTION AND A PLURALITY OF TEETH FASTENED TO SAID BEAD PORTION IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COMBINATION OF A LOCK MECHANISM FOR LOCKING SAID TEETH RACKS TOGETHER ADJACENT THE FREE ENDS THEREOF AND FOR HOLDING AN OVERFLAP, NORMALLY OVERLYING SAID TEETH RACKS, IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT PLANE WHICH COMPRISES: A HOOK MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER HOOK PORTION, AND INNER PORTION FASTENED TO THE FLEXIBLE BEAD OF ONE OF SAID TEETH RACKS ADJACENT THE FREE END THEREOF, AND A GENERALLY FLAT CONNECTING PORTION BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER PORTIONS; FASTENING MEANS ON SAID FLAT CONNECTING PORTION OF SAID HOOK MEMBER FOR HOLDING AN OVERFLAP OVERLYING SAID HOOK MEMBER AGAINST SAID CONNECTING PORTION; AND AN EYE MEMBER POSITIONED OPPOSITE SAID HOOK MEMBER AND FASTENED TO THE OTHER OF SAID FLEXIBLE BEADS, SAID EYE MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID HOOK MEMBER THEREBY HOLDING SAID FLEXIBLE BEADS IN LOCKING SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP. 